Birkat Cohanim

From Halachipedia

Proper behavior of the congregation during Birkat Cohanim

  1. The Tzibbur should stand during Birkat Cohanim and listen to every word with intent. [1]
  2. If one is slightly behind the Cohanim one is not included in the Bracha, however, if one is standing directly on the side, one is included in the Bracha, yet, one should face the Cohanim. [2]
  3. If one is in front of the Cohanim one should face east (the front of the Shul). [3]
  4. One shouldn’t look at the hands of the Cohanim during Birkat Cohanim and so one should face downward [4] or cover one’s face with a talit. [5] However, nowadays that the Cohanim wear the Talit over their hands one may look at the cohanim. [6]

Someone in middle of Shemona Esreh

  1. Someone who’s in middle of Shemona Esreh should stop to listen even if one is in front of the Cohanim [7] and not answer Amen. [8]

Interruptions

  1. During Birkat Cohanim one shouldn’t make any interruptions even to answer Kaddish or Kedusha. [9]
  2. The Tzibbur shouldn’t say anything during the Birkat Cohanim except for Amen (and some say Baruch Hu Baruch Shemo). [10]
  3. The Shaliach Tzibbur shouldn’t answer Amen unless he’s Davening from a Siddur and feels that he won’t loose his place, [11] but to the Bracha of the cohanim before Birkat Cohanim one certainly shouldn’t answer Amen. [12]

The Shaliach Tzibbur saying each word

  1. The Sheliach Tzibbur should say each word to the Cohanim out loud and not quietly. [13]
  2. If one of the Cohanim didn’t hear a word (even the name of Hashem), the Sheliach Tzibbur should repeat it out loud. [14]

Washing hands

  1. The kohanim need to wash their entire hands for birkat kohanim, even on tisha be’av on which one can’t wash past the knuckles. only Levim who regularly wash their own hands before washing the kohanim’s, can wash on tisha be’av before washing the kohanim’s hands. [15]

References

  1. ↑ Mishna Brurah 128:51, Tefillah KeHilchata 14:48
  2. ↑ S”A 128:24, Biur Halacha D”H Aval
  3. ↑ Biur Halacha 128:24 D”H Aval
  4. ↑ S”A 128:23
  5. ↑ Mishna Brurah 128:92, Tefillah KeHilchata 14:49
  6. ↑ Siach Tefillah (Shaar 5, 1:2) [See also Rav Herschel Schacter’s opinion at yu.edu.]. However, the Piskei Teshuvot 128:55 writes that one should still not look at the Cohanim so as not to get distracted.
  7. ↑ Halichot Shlomo 10:3 (note 18 adds that one should listen from the beginning of the Bracha that the cohanim make before Birkat Cohanim.)
  8. ↑ Tefillah KeHilchata 14:51 based on Sh”t Shevet HaLevi 3:15, and the Imrei Yosher in name of the Chazon Ish writes not to answer Amen, whereas Sh”t Yabea Omer 1:11 and Sh”t Yechava Daat 6:37 writes that one should answer Amen. Tefillah KeHilchata 14:51 writes that if one is saying Shemona Esreh together with the Shaliach Tzibbur one should answer Amen.
  9. ↑ Halichot Shlomo 10:4
  10. ↑ Mishna Brurah 127:11. Sh”t Yechava Daat 4:9 writes that one should say Baruch Hu UBaruch Shemo after the name of Hashem. Tefillah KeHilchata (pg 297 note 110* writes that some have the minhag to answer Ken Yehe Ratzon after the first two pesukim and Amen Ken Yehe Ratzon after the third pasuk.
  11. ↑ S”A 128:19, Mishna Brurah 128:71, Tefillah KeHilchata 14:52
  12. ↑ Mishna Brurah 128:71, Kaf HaChaim 128:112, Tefillah KeHilchata 14:52
  13. ↑ Halichot Shlomo 10:15
  14. ↑ Halichot Shlomo (pg 133 note 56)
  15. ↑ http://www.dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?ClipID=958
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